Another Defeat1295 words
"Thank you for your gift - I promise to use it wisely," he said as he pressed his hand against the tree, then bent his head and touched it with his forehead, repeating that mantra on and on, with his eyes closed, searching for the life inside the tree. He gently placed his other hand on the branch, still reaping the mantra, letting his energy sip into it, sharing it with it.
Soon, he felt the onset of peace, feeling the tranquility of the tree as it was standing firm and tall in the howling wind, even sensing the vigor of the wind that was carrying off a bit of the snow that blanketed its leaf-less branches, his anger leaving him with each snowflake that flew away.
In peace he stood there, suddenly sensing an unexplainable joy of life, simplicity, and its purity, till the energy in his body did not occupy most of the tree.
Then by sharing in just a bit of his Mana, just a few points of it, he exerted his desire for the branch to become part of him, for the tree to let it have it.
The cherry tree did not rebel but took his Mana, accepted him in completely, and then, when he pulled on the branch, it came off effortlessly, almost as if the tree was transferring it to El's guardianship.
It was a good branch. At its thickest end, it was more than two inch thick, and he figured he could use six feet of it before it got too thin.
Without the use of a blade or stone, just with the power of his energy and Mana, he slowly started to make a staff out of it by taking off all the side branches and its dark bark.
He found so much enjoyment in the act that he completely lost track of time, the process so calming and enjoyable that he did not want it to stop.
So, when his staff was done, he wanted more of it.
Back to the tree he went, found a smaller suitable branch, and repeated the process, restoring some peace in himself that was destroyed so many weeks ago.
I can have two stalks, why not, Double Staff Warrior, they can call me. Double Master. Since Staffless Master would not do, I guess.
By the time he finished, the person who ran up the mountain that morning was unrecognizable by him, the anger and frustration taken all out of him, taken away somewhere in the wind.
The smaller staff was enough to store about 60 Mana units inside, and he felt his Energy and Mana units deplete as he was making the transfer, making him lightheaded, yet happy.
I bet in the big one I could pour a whole hundred Mana units inside, he calculated. But then, feeling hungry, he decided to head back to the village, knowing that his Mana would start regenerating and increase faster if his Energy was restored after a big meal.
Eggs and a pair of those sausages, and that good bread of yesterday. That would do me so good now. Then, I'll just find a blacksmith to cast some iron and make the bottom and top tips for my staff so I can shoot Mana out of the staff really fast. And while he works on it, I'll sit and meditate. I bet by the time he finishes, I'll have enough Mana to fill it up, and with that, I'll have more than double what I had this morning. The plan seemed perfect.
There was a good crowd in front of Holgar's place when he came back. A few faces he knew, most he did not. Alice was there in the middle of it, and the look of confusion and fear on her face made him wonder what was going on. Made him doubt he was going to get breakfast anytime soon.
He sighed and hurried his step, tightening further the long staff he placed over his back while the smaller one that came five feet off the ground he held as a long cane in his hand.
The crowd clamoring with indiscrete chatter, the whimpering of a woman over the loss of her loved one, it all quieted down as they saw him approach them. He looked at their faces and not one dared to look him straight in the eyes. The line opened with villagers stepping back. It certainly was not the gathering or the welcome he was expecting.
On each side of Alice towered a tall soldier, covered in rusting mail, their unprotected face revealing coldness and indifference.
I guess that is the help they called for, El thought, noticing in the distance three tied horses.
Not much, almost nothing, he concluded judging their unkept appearance and tired eyes. These two fools will not fight, even if they want to.
"Where were you?" Alice asked as he came closer.
He bothered not to answer her. Not that he was going to give her any proper answer anyway. So, probably, the best she got was his silence.
"There was another attack… A farm North West from here was overrun and one of the salesmen was killed," she added.
"And we know you're behind that!" he heard somewhere behind the broad shoulders of one of the soldiers.
So, that's what it was. Accuse the guy who was not there.
"And how do you know I'm behind it?" El asked calmly, even though he thought he should not.
"Before he died, Evin, oh, my dear Evin, said a stranger killed him!" the salesman that Ed had confronted before added, with a lot of theatrics in his voice. But all the people watched him and shook their heads in disgust. "He died in my hands! My very hands! His blood… still fresh on my clothes. Oh, if I was only faster to get to the farm!" the man sobbed, and someone behind put their supporting hand on his shoulder, tapping him. "And those were his last words! He said it! On his last breath! And we all know, there are no other strangers here than you?"
There were a million things that ran through El's head. He passed one quick glance over the crowd. People who would swear that he came here to save them last night seemed to have moved away. Lives he saved seemed lives ready to listen to whatever this salesman was telling them.
And a good orator he is, El had to admit.
"The prophecy and the stranger that came with it! You're the one? Is there another? And the beasts that we never saw came on your heels?? And-"
"I own none of you any explanation," El's voice boomed over the salesman. "I helped all I could last night. Those brave enough to fight came out to see it. Those who did not hid probably the same place you did."
"Oh, he… he, he says he owes us no explanation! But you do, stranger, you do. These poor folks…"
"And who are you?" El suddenly asked a fat man dressed in a long fur coat with a golden chain around his neck.
"My name is Principle Lub and I hold you accountable, stranger! So you will come quietly with us, or my men will-"
"You're not my Principle. And stop behaving like a horse's ass. I will not dignify your accusations by giving you any answers. I did not kill the trader. Although, I may just kill that one. I have not yet made up my mind."